Traffic signal control



June 12, 1934. A. F. MARTEL 1,962,451

TIiAFFIG SIGNAL CONTROL Filed Feb. 24. 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet l FIG. 4.

INVENTOR:

ADELARD F. MARTEL ATTORNEY June 12, 1934- A. F. MARTEL TRAFFIC SIGNAL CONTROL Filed Feb. 24, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 2.

FIG. 3.

I NVENT OR'. ADELARD F. MARTEL ATTORNEY.

Patented June 12, 1934 UNITED STATES TRAFFIC SIGNAL CONTROL Adelard F. Martel, San Mateo, Calif., assignor of one-half to George W. Gates, Burlingame,

Calif.

Application February 24, 1932, Serial No. 594,805

4 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in electric switches and more particularly to controlling switches for traffic signals.

The principal object of the invention is to selectively control traffic signals at street intersections.

Another object is to provide a trip switch in the path of vehicles to set the traffic signal against opposed traffic to clear the right of way for a predetermined period for the vehicle depressing the first trip switch.

Another object is to provide a trip switch sturdy and simple in construction and noiseless in operation, adapted to be buried in trafiic lanes to be operated by the wheels of vehicles.

Other objects and advantages will appear as the description progresses.

In this specification and the accompanying drawings the invention is disclosed in its preferred form. It is to be understood, however, that it is not limited to this form because it may be embodied in other forms within the purview of the claims following the description.

In the two sheets of drawings:

Fig. 1 is a vertical section taken on the line II, Fig. 2, of a trip switch constructed in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view from above of the same, with the cover removed.

Fig. 3 is a detail in front elevation of the contact mechanism of the switch, showing the enclosing switch box in vertical section on the line III--III, Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a detached detail in side elevation of the contactor arm and terminals of the switch mechanism, in the inoperative position.

In detail the construction illustrated in the drawings comprises an enclosing box open at the top and preferably having the bottom 1, the sides 2-2 and the ends 3-3 formed integrally. This box has the cover 4 secured thereto.

The open top bearings 5-5 are formed in the ends of the box to receive the trunnions 6-6 formed on the opposite ends of the weighted trip '7. This trip swings freely on the trunnions 6-6. The head 8 projects above the plane of the cover 4 through a slot 9 therein. The rear portion 10 of this head is concentric with the trunnions 6, and has the slot 11 formed therein. The weight- 5 ed end hangs below the trunnions 6 and restores the trip to the inoperative position, shown in Fig. 1, after the wheel X of the vehicle has depressed the head 8. See interrupted lines Fig. 1.

The interior portion of the head 8 can be hollow as indicated in dotted lines; this reduces the counterbalancing weight necessary at 12. The rebound of the weight is absorbed by the rubber bumper 13 inserted in the weight and bumping against the stud 14 formed on the bottom 1 of the box. A similar bumper 15 is provided on 30 the opposite side of the weight to bump against the adjacent side 2, to limit the swing of the weight in that direction. These interposed bumpers insure the silent operation of the trip in both directions.

The switch compartment 16 is formed at one end of the box by the partition 1'7, joining the adjacent side and end 2-3. This compartment has a separate cover 18 fixed thereto to protect the switch from dirt and water. Should water leak into the compartment it will drain oii through the drain pipe 19. A similar drain pipe 20 of ample capacity will drain the trip box.

The contact switch mechanism is best shown in Fig. 3, and comprises an insulating base block 21, having the septum 22 projecting outward therefrom. The lug 23 can be ground to fit against the tapered side 2 to wedge the base 21 snugly within the compartment 16.

The bearing brackets 24-24 project outwardly from the opposite edges of the base 21, see Fig. 3. The outer ends 25-25 of these brackets also bear against the wall 2 to assist in wedging the base into the compartment 16. These brackets are drilled to receive the reduced ends 26-27 of the shaft 28.

The shaft end 27 extends beyond the wall of the compartment and has the operating lever 28' fixed thereon. The outer end of this arm has an antifriction roller therein, which operates in the slot 11 of the trip. The swing of the trip head 8, oscillates the shaft 28, when the head is depressed by the passage of the tire X thereover.

The contactor arm 29 is fixed upon the shaft 28 and oscillates therewith. The tubular metal roller 30, has an internal core of insulating material 31 interposed between the tubular periphery of the roller and the pin 32 through the extended bearings 3333 on the arm 29. The cross bar 34 of insulating material is fixed to the outer side of the arm 29. The contactor arm 29 is urged into the inoperative position by the torsion of the spiral spring 35 encircling the shaft 28 and having its opposite ends fixed in the contactor arm 29 and the adjacent bracket 24, respectively.

The terminal contacts of the signal operating .105 circuit 3637, not shown, consist of a pair of helical springs 38-39 preferably of hard bronze, having one of their ends 40-4l terminating on the binding posts 42-43 respectively, on the base 21. The opposite ends 44-45 of these springs extend through the slots in the guiding flanges id-47 on the base 21. The ends 4445 extend through a pair of tubes -i849 of suitable contact material which bear against the insulating bar 34 in the path of the contact roller 30.

When the springs 3839 are assembled on the base as described, the rod 50 of insulating material is passed through the coils 38-39 and the septum 22, which holds the terminals 4849 in proper position for even tension against the contaetor roller 30.

This invention operates substantially as follows: When the head 8 is depressed by the tire X it carries the end of the lever 28 downward within the slot 11. This throws the roller 30 outward into rolling contact with the terminals 4849 acting as a buss bar to carry current from one to the other to close the operating circuit 36-37. The torsion of the coils 38-39 opposes the thrust of the roller 30, insuring a proper switch contact. After the tire X has passed, the inoperative condition is restored by the counter weight 12 of the trip, assisted by the springs 35, 38 and 39, which insure the snappy action of the contact mechanism. In the inoperative position the terminals 48-49 are insulated by the bar 34, holding the circuit 36-3'7 open.

This same switch mechanism is applicable to the operation of railway gates, the various forms of signals and similar mechanism, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described this invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A traffic signal control comprising an enclosing box; a cover closing said box; a counterbalanced trip pivoted in said box and projecting through said cover; a switch compartment in said box; an individual cover closing said coinpartment; an electric switch in said compartment; and operative means for said switch engaged by said trip.

2. A trafiic signal control comprising an enclosing box; a cover closing said box; a trip projecting through said cover and having trunnions pivoted in the ends of said box; a counterbalancing weight depending from said trip and having a limited swing within said box; an electric switch within said box; a lever operatively engaging said switch and adapted to be oscillated by said trip.

3. A traflic signal control including a box having a partition dividing the box into a trip compartment and a switch compartment; a cover on said box having an opening therethrough; a counterbalanced tr p pivoted in said trip compartment and projecting through said opening; an electric witch in said switch compartment having a lever projecting through said partition and operatively engaging said trip.

4. A traffic signal control including a box having a closed switch compartment therein; a cover on said box having an opening therethrough; a counterbalanced trip pivoted in said box and projecting through said opening; an electric switch in said compartment having a lever operatively engaging a notch in said trip.

ADELARD F. MARTEL. 

